spruce
spruce¹
Definition
spruce (spro̵̅o̅s)
noun
- any of a genus (Picea) of evergreen trees of the pine family, having slender needles that are rhombic in cross section
- the soft, light wood of any of these trees
- any of several evergreen trees, as the Douglas fir, resembling the spruces
Etymology: ME Spruce, for Pruce, Prussia < OFr < ML Prussia: prob. because the tree was first known as a native of Prussia
spruce²
Definition
spruce (spro̵̅o̅s)
adjective spruc′er, spruc′·est
neat and trim in a smart, dapper way
Etymology: < ME Spruce (see spruce), esp. in the phr. Spruce leather, fine leather imported from Prussia
transitive verb spruced, spruc′·ing
to make spruce: usually with up
intransitive verb
to make oneself spruce: usually with up
spruce′ly adverb
spruce′·ness noun
spruce
Synonyms
spruce
Usage Examples
Object
- larch: Suitable conifers include Scots pine, and introduced species such as Sitka spruce, European larch and hybrid larch.
- fir: The spruce firs, too, are very fine.
- plantation: Here too, and on Claife Heights, are the spruce plantations.
- pine: Sitka spruce is the dominant species with Norway spruce, lodgepole pine and Japanese larch also common.
- forest: Imagine views of Mont Blanc and skiing through spruce forests from your own Alpine home.
- tree: They will then decorate a spruce tree in the home.
Adjective modifier
- white: Bt genes have been engineered into a wide range of species, including poplar, European larch, white spruce and walnut.
Modifies a noun
- sawfly: The QIC includes details of the hosts, description and life cycle, damage, sources and pest status of the European spruce sawfly.
- aphid: Fieldwork is carried out at Radnor Forest in Wales, where Forestry Commission research into the green spruce aphid is already established.
- forest: This is where dense spruce forests cloak the sheer canyons for which the Park is famous.
- tree: He should not have built the fire under the spruce tree.
- top: You feel the tension of energy in the rare alpine spruce top.
- spar: The wings had spruce spars ( either laminated or in one piece ).
Modifying Another Word
- solid: They are all new and boxed Grade " AA " solid spruce top Flame Maple Back and Sides Rosewood fingerboard with 20 frets.
- up: The front main bar is as ugly as it ever was despite a slight spruce up; odd Mock Tudor paneling and muted lighting.
- very: The bus looks very spruce, only spoilt by the silver rear wheel, somewhat not in keeping.
- all: However, the less good weather gives an opportunity to get the garden furniture all spruced up for the coming months.
Adjective complement
- top: They are all new and boxed Grade " AA " solid spruce top Flame Maple Back and Sides Rosewood fingerboard with 20 frets.
Particle object:
- garden: People in the Elswick Triangle area will have just four days to spruce up the gardens in their neighborhood.
Preposition: with
- pine: The conifer forests are largely of Sitka and Norway spruce with some lodgepole pine.
Browse dictionary entries near spruce
- sprout
- sprocket
- spritzer
- spritz
- spritsail
- sprite
- sprit
- sprinter
- sprint
- sprinkling
- spruce beer
- spruce grouse
- spruce pine
- sprue
- sprung
- sprung rhythm
- spry
- spud
- spue
- spume
